Mizuho Told to Halt Bank-Loan Business With Consumer-Credit Affiliates for a Month

TOKYO—Japan's financial regulator came down on Mizuho Bank harder than expected Thursday for not addressing loans to members of alleged criminal groups, and for the way it handled disclosures about the problem.

The Financial Services Agency ordered Mizuho Bank to suspend for a month its loan transactions with consumer-credit affiliates, which handled the questionable loans. It also ordered Mizuho Bank and its parent, Mizuho Financial...